Elastic covering for use in ironing apparatus and the like



Dec. 31, 196.5 w. E. scHMl-rz 3,115,717

ELASTIC covERING Foa USE 1N IRoNING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. l?, 1961 vr/Euro1?,- h/erner E. CLIM/TZ 2B By United States Patent O 3,115,717 ELASHC CVERNG EUR USE EN lilhlillt? APPARATUS AND THE LiKE Werner E. Schmitz, Coesfeld, Westphalia, Germany (Wiiheimtantes-Str., Hameln (Wesen, Germany) Filed `ian. 17, wat, Ser. No. 33,326 Claims priority, appiication Germany dan. i9, 1960 7 Claims. (Cl. 38-66) The present invention relates to resiliently compressible structures in general, and more particularly to a composite elastic covering which is especially suited for use as a coating for ironing boards, for the rollers of mangles, as well Vas for certain par-ts of ironing presses and other ironing and calendering apparatus.

`It is al-ready known to cover certain rigid parts of ironing and calendering apparatus, such as boards, rollers and troughs, with a nettle of cheese cloth and to provide an elastic layer intermediate the cloth and the rigid part or parts of the apparatus. Such intermediate layers often consist of foam rubber, of a foamed plastic material, of steel wool or another elastically compressible substance. However, the just enumerated intermediate layers exhibit a series of `drawbacks one of which is that a foam rubber or a foamed plastic layer =will lose its elasticity after comparatively short periods of use if i-t is repeatedly subjected to pressures at temperatures in the nange of between 80-220 C. such as are necessary in the ironing of textile materials. rlhe compressed foam rubber or foamed plastic layer becomes impervious to the passage of moisture `and vapors so that the moisture evaporated from the textile material and from the ironing cloth on contact with a hot iron cannot pass therethrough. This reduces the quality of the work and necessitates a prolonged contact of textile material with the iron. Furthermore, `once the intermediate layer cannot permit the passage of moisture and/tor steam, unsigh-tly water spots develop on the cloth which contributes to rapid destruction of the material of which the cloth is made because the latter is improperly ventilated and remains wet throughout the entire ironing or ca-lendering operation. As a rule, fthe cloth must be exchanged after a few weeks of actual use, and such frequent interchange is due mainly to improper ventilation caused by permanent deformation of the intermediate -foam rubber or foamed plastic layer.

Similar drawbacks :are observable if the intermediate layer consists of -steel wool. Another serious `drawback of a steel wool layer is that it tends to corrotde and produces rust spots on the ironing cloth which often cause discoloration of the textile material placed onto the cloth. Still further, small particles which are chipped off the steel wool layer may damage the ironing cloth, the textile material placed onto the cloth, the sole plate of the iron and/ or other parts of the ironing or calendering apparatus. Such small particles or chips may be sucked in by the fan which is often provided in ironing apparatus to assist the evacuation of vapors and moisture.

ln order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of foarned plastic, foam rubber and steel wool layers, it was already suggested to use an intermediate layer consisting of helical springs. However, such springs do not form a continuous supporting surface for vthe cloth so that the latters thickness and hence its cost must be increased in order to insure that the textile material 'which requires ironing is properly supported. Furthermore, the manufacture and mounting of a large number of helical springs adds substantially to the overall cost of the ironing or calendering apparatus so that such intermediate layer-s failed to gain widespread acceptance in the industry.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved intermediate layer for ICC ironing and like appanatus which does not exhibit the above outlined drawbacks of presently known intermediate layers and whose elasticity and permeability remain intact for practically unlimited periods of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide an intermediate layer of the just outlined characteristics which presents a continuous supporting surface for an ironing cloth or the like and which may be manufactured at a cost much lower than the cost of structures presently utilized for such purposes.

A further :object of the instant invention is to provide an elastic covering for ironing boards, mangle rollers and the like which may be pro-duced as a prefabricated article of any desired len-gth or fwidth and which is equally useful as ia coating for flat as well `as for arcuate or rounded bodies.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide an elastic covering of the above outlined characteristics which, when utilized in an ironing apparatus, contributes to substantial savings in heat energy and prolongs the useful life of the ironing cloth.

A concomitant object of my invention is to provide an elastic covering of the above described type which prevents the formation of water or rust spots on the ironing cloth and which contributes to an increase in the output of the ironing or calenidering apparatus by insuring better and more uniform withdrawal of moisture and steam.

Still another object of ythe invention is to provide an elastic covering which is capable of preventing undesirable -displacements of the ironing cloth, which can be readily installed in all ironing and calendering apparatus of presently known design, which contributes to a reduction in time necessary for the ironing `or mangling of a selec-ted article by up to 301 percent, and ywhich may be produced of a wide variety of readily available materials.

With the above objects in view, the invention resides in the provision of an elastic covering which consists essentially of a preferably flexible and normally elongated band-or strip-like metallic or plastic support, and of a plurality of preferably aligned, leaf-like, substantially Z-, C- or U-shaped elastic elements each of which comprises a preferably flat plate-like first portion which is permanently or removably connected with the support, a preferably dat plate-like second portion which is spaced from the first portion, and an intermediate portion which is inclined with respect to and is connected with the aforementioned portions so that the second portions are movable toward and away from the rst portions. The second portions of the elastic elements, i.e. those portions which are not connected to the support, are disposed in a common plane and form a scale-like or imbricated pattern wherein the free edges of the second portions extend into suitable recesses formed in the adjacent second portions which insures that the exposed sides of the second portions presents a continuous supporting surface for an ironing cloth or the like.

ln accordance with an important feature of my invention, the elastic elements and their support may be formed with perforations which permit rapid and continuous evacuation of moisture and vapors from the ironing cloth, and the exposed side of the support is preferably formed with corrugations which prevent it from coming into full face-to-face contact with a carrier because such full faceto-face contact would prevent the evacuation of moisture. The layer of air entrapped between the iirst and second portions of the elastic elements forms a good insulating cushion which, being a poor conductor of heat, reduces the heat energy requirements of the apparatus.

Certain other features of the invention reside in the provision of stops which maintain the rst portions of adjacent elastic elements in proper position with respect to each other and with respect to the support, in the provision of special channel-shaped connecting. means between the support and the individual elastic elements, in the provision of means for preventing the ironing cloth from sliding with respect to the scale-like structure formed by the second portions of the elastic elements, and 1n the provision of specially conigurated elastic. elements sucn as prevent excessive deformation of thelr lntermedlate portions.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of certain speciiic embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a longitudinal section through an elastic band-like covering embodying one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the elastic covering as seen in the direction of the arrow II in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a slightly modiiied elastic element for the covering;

FIG. 4 is a top plan View of the elastic element shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a different elastic element whose intermediate portion assumes an undulate form;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of an elastic element whose intermediate portion is formed with a pronounced loop;

FIG. 7 is a top plan View of the elastic element shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of a support for the elastic elements of the type shown in FIGS. 3 to 7;

FIG. 9 is a transverse section through the support as seen in the direction of the arrows from the line IX-IX of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of an ironing or mangling roller showing the manner in which the elastic covering may be applied thereto.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an elastic bandlike covering comprising a plurality of substantially U- shaped longitudinally aligned adjacent elastic elements or leaves l and a preferably flexible support 2 of uniform width which latter is permanently or removably connected to the aligned coplanar plate-like lower arms or portions 12 of the elements I. In addition to the lower arm l2, each elastic element ll comprises a plate-like upper arm or portion I3 which is parallel with the lower arm 12, and a substantially flat intermediate portion or web II which connects the arms I2, I3 with each other. FIGS. l and 2 show the elastic elements I on an enlarged scale, and it will be noted that the planes of the webs Il enclose with the common plane of the lower arms I2 an acute angle of between about 30410 degrees. As clearly shown in FIG. l, the lower arms l2 are of equal length so that the adjacent webs Il are equidistant from each other, this being insured by the provision of upwardly bent noses or stops I5 which are provided at the free transverse edge of each lower arm I2 so that the stop 15 of each lower arm I2 abuts against the web Il of the adjacent elastic element 1. In the embodiment of FIGS. l and 2, the lower arms I2; are held against lateral displacement with respect to each other by extending with their lateral edge portions into a pair of channels 21 formed by the longitudinal edge portions of the support Z (see also FIGS. 8 and 9), these channels receiving the lateral edge portions of the lower arms 12 with suiicient friction to simultaneously prevent longitudinalrnovements of the elastic elements I with respect to the support 2. If desired, each lower arm I2 may be welded, soldered, glued or otherwise secured to the support 2; in such instances, the channels 2l may be omitted so that the support 2 assumes the form of a more or less at strip of preferably uniform width.

At the junction between its web Il and its upper arm I3, each elastic element I is formed with a transversely extending notch or recess I4 whose depth equals the thickness of the material of which the elements I are made so that the free transverse edge portion of each upper arm I3 extends into the recess I4 of the adjacent element I which insures that the upper arms I3 are located in a common plane and that these upper arms form a scale-like structure resembling an imbricated pattern which is elastically movable toward and away from the plane of the lower arms I2 but remains parallel with this plane at all times. The length of the recesses I4- as seen in the longitudinal direction of the elastic covering is selected in such a way that the upper arms ,I3 remain coplanar even if the covering is subjected to maximum compression in the direction of the arrow II. The exposed side of the imbricated pattern consisting of coplanar upper arms or scales I3 is covered by a customary textile ironing cloth IC which is shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. This cloth is prevented from sliding with respect to the elastic covering by a plurality of upwardly extending projections or barbs ISI which are provided on the upper arms I3 and whose height is less than the thickness of the ironing cloth IC. This insures that the projections ISI, which may be formed in a stamping machine or the like, will not damage a textile material placed onto the cloth IC when the elastic covering is used in a mangle or on an ironing board, or that the projections will not scratch the sole plate of an iron which slides over the cloth IC.

In order to facilitate the evaporation of moisture when the elastic covering is used in an ironing apparatus, the arms I2, I3 are respectively provided with apertures or perforations I6, In', and the support 2 is also provided with apertures or perforations 23. It is preferred to form the underside of the support 2 with channel-shaped cor rugations 2 2 (best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9) which prevent the underside of the support from coming into full face-to-face contact with the dat surface of a carrier or the like such as Would prevent the evaporation of moisture through the apertures 23. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the apertures I6 in the lower arms I2 assume the form of elongated closed slots whereas the apertures I6 and 23 are of circular shape. 0f course, the configuration and the number of the apertures I6, 16 andvZ?) may be varied as desired.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the Width of the intermediate portions or webs 1I is preferably less than the width of the arms I2 and I3, and also that the upper arms I3 may be split into several coplanar components 13a, 13b etc. which are separated by longitudinal open slots I32 preferably extending into the respective webs 1I. This adds to the elasticity of the elements I and provides additional paths for the evacuation of moisture and vapors in a direction away from the ironing cloth IC. Consequently, the formation of undesirable Water spots on the ironing cloth is prevented in a very simple way because the Various apertures, slots and corrugations provide a number of paths for the evacuation of moisture and vapors so that the ironing cloth is properly ventilated and may be dried more rapidly than in conventional mangles, ironing boards, ironing presses and the like. The air filling the space between the arms IZ and I3 provides a very satisfactory insulating layer so that the heat energy consumption of an ironing machine utilizing the improved elastic covering may be reduced by 25 percent or even more.

If it is desired to produce an elastic covering of substantial width, several band-like coverings of the type shown in FIG. l may be placed next to each other and their supports 2 connected by transversely extending metallic or plastic strips to form a plate-like structure.

The elements I and the support 2 may consist of a ferrous or nonferrous metallic or of a synthetic plastic material. The width of the upper arms 13 preferably equals the width of the support 2. The apertures or perforations 16, 16 and 23 may be formed in a stamping process simultaneously with the formation of stops 15, of projections 131, of corrugations 22 and of guide channels 21. As clearly shown in FIG. 8, the channels 21 may be formed by bending the edge portions of the support 2 through about 18() degrees so that the bent-over edge portions are substantially parallel with the central body portion of the support.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a modified substantially Z-shaped elastic element 261 whose arms 212, 213 are respectively bent in opposite directions from the substantially flat intermediate portion or web 211, i.e. each of the arms 212, 213 encloses an obtuse angle with the web 211. Otherwise, the construction of the element 201 is rather similar to that of the elements 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The arms 212, 213 are respectively formed with circular perforations or apertures 216, 216 and the arm 213 is divided into three components 21311, 21311, 213C by a pair of open slots 232 which extend into the web 211.

FIG. 5 shows an elastic element 301 whose intermediate portion or web 311 is of arcuate or undulate shape which adds somewhat to the elasticity of the covering assembled from such elements. Otherwise, the contiguration of the element 301 is identical with that of the elements shown in FIGS. l and 2, i.e. the arms 12, 13 are parallel with each other and extend from the same side of the intermediate portion or web 311.

Referring to FGS. 6 and 7, there is shown a slightly different elastic element 401 whose web 411 is formed with a pronounced eye or loop 417. Such loops prevent a complete flattening of the elements 401 when their ripper arms 13 are subjected to excessive compression by abutting against the webs 411 of the adjacent elements, i.e. when an elastic covering utilizing such elements is compressed with a force tending to move the arms 13 all the way into contact with the webs of the adjacent elements. In the absence of loops 417, such excessive compression could lead to a permanent deformation of the elements 401.

FIG. l0 shows the manner in which an elongated elastic covering of the type illustrated in FIGS. l and 2 may be applied to the roller 13 of a mangle. The covering is convoluted in the form of a helix and is thereupon surrounded by a tubular ironing cloth after having its longitudinal ends secured to the roller 13. An ironing board may be covered by one, two or more elongated band-like elastic coverings utilizing the elastic elements shown in FIGS. l to 7.

Of course, it will be readily understood that the elastic covering of my invention can be put to use in many other branches of the industry, for example, as an elastic coat in textile, papermaking, leather processing and many other machines. A further advantageous application of my covering may be found in the plastic processing industry wherever a plastic substance must be supported by an elastic layer. For example, the upper arms of the elements forming my improved covering may be provided with suitably contigurated depressions which together form a design, a trademark, one or more words or other symbols which may be formed on the material passing along the upper arms. Such symbols may be formed by varying the thickness of the upper arms or by deforming selected portions of the upper arms.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. An elastic covering for use in ironing apparatus and the like, said covering comprising, in combination, an elongated strip-like support of uniform width; and a plurality of elastic elements each comprising a irst portion connected with said support, a substantially plate-like second portion spaced from said rst portion and parallel with said support, the width of said second portion at least approximating the width of said support, and an intermediate portion inclined with respect to said support and with respect to said second portion and connecting said second portion with said rst portion in such a way that the second portion is elastically movable toward and away from said support, said second portions being coplanar and together forming an imbricated pattern of adjacent second portions which are movable with respect to one another while remaining coplanar, each of said second portions formed with a recess and each having a free edge portion extending transversely of said support, said edge portion extending in the recess of the adjacent second portion.

2. An elastic covering for use in ironing apparatus and the like, said covering comprising, in combination, an elongated strip-like support of uniform width; and a plurality of elastic elements each comprising a rst portion connected with said support, a substantially platelike second portion spaced from said first portion and parallel with said support, the width of said second portion at least approximating the width of said support, and an intermediate portion inclined with respect to said support and with respect to said second portion and connecting said second portion with said iirst portion in such a way that the second portion is elastically movable toward and away from said support, said second portions being adjacent to each other, being coplanar and together forming an imbricated pattern, each of said second portions having a recess of a depth equal to the thickness of said second portions and extending transversely of said support at the junction of said second portions with the respective intermediate portions, and each second portion having a free edge portion extending transversely of said support and projecting into the recess of the adjacent second portion so that each second portion is movable with respect to but remains coplanar with the adjacent second portion in response to loads which tend to move the second portions toward said support.

3. An eiastic covering for use in ironing apparatus and the like, comprising elongated supporting means of corrugated shape; and a plurality of closely adjacent aligned elastic elements each comprising a first portion connected with said supporting means, a second portion spaced from said first portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said rst portion with said second portion so that the second portion is elastically movable toward and away from said iirst portion, the second portions of said elastic elements being coplanar and forming an imbricated pattern of adjacent second portions which are movable with respect to one another while remaining coplanar, said supporting means and each of said rst and second portions having perforations so that moisture and vapors may pass freely through said elastic covering via said perforations.

4. An elastic covering for use in ironing apparatus and the like, comprising elongated supporting means; and a plurality of closely adjacent aligned elastic elements each comprising a rst portion connected with said supporting means, a second portion spaced from said first portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said iirst portion with said second portion so that the second portion is elastically movable toward and away from said first portion, the second portions of said elastic elements being coplanar and forming an imbricated pattern of adjacent second portions which are movable with respect to one another while remaining coplanar and each first portion Comprising stop means abutting against the intermediate portion of the adjacent elastic` elements.

5. An elastic covering for use in ironing apparatus and the like, comprising elongated supporting means; a plurality ot ciosely adjacent aligned elastic elements each cornprising a rst portion connected with said supporting means, a second portion spaced from said first portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said rst portion with said second portion so that the second portion is elastically movable toward and away from said rst portion, the second portions ot said elastic elements being coplanar and forming an inibricated pattern of adjacent second portions which are movable with respect to one another while remaining coplanar and at least the majority of said second portions comprising at least one projection extending in a direction away from the respective rst portions; and a cloth supported by said second portions, said projections engaging said cloth at a plurality of spaced points thereon for preventing sliding movements thereof.

6. An elastic covering for use in ironing apparatus and the like, comprising elongated supporting means; including a pair of longitudinally extending channel-shaped edge portions; and a plurality of closely adjacent aligned onepiece elastic elements each comprising a substantially plate-like rst portion having lateral edge portions received in the channnel-shaped edge portions of and thus connected with said supporting means, a second portion spaced from said first portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said rst portion with said second portion so that the second portion is elastically movable toward and away from said rst portion, the second portions of said elastic elements being coplanar and forming an imbricated pattern of unconnected adjacent second portions which are movable with respectto one another while remaining coplanar, the points of-connection between the intermediate portion and the first and second portions of each elastic element being laterally offset relative to one another.

7. An elastic covering comprising supporting means having a top face; and a plurality of closely adjacent elastic elements each comprising a 'irst portion connected to the top face of said supporting means, a second portion spaced from said lirst portion and arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the top face of said supporting means, and an intermediate portion having a first end connected to said first portion and a second end connected to said second portion and offset laterally relative to said first end in a direction parallel to the top face of said supporting means, the second portions of all of said elastic elements being unconnected to each other and forming an imbricated pattern whereby each second portion is freely slidably supported by an adjacent second portion so as to distribute the load applied to the second portion of any one of said elastic elements at least to the adjacent elastic element.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,468,557 Cline Sept. 18, 1923 2,190,146 Bristol Feb. 13, 1940 2,439,530 Tea Apr. 13, 1948 2,708,322 De Frances May 17, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 445,808 Great Britain Apr. 20, 1936 

1. AN ELASTIC COVERING FOR USE IN IRONING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE, SAID COVERING COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED STRIP-LIKE SUPPORT OF UNIFORM WIDTH; AND A PLURALITY OF ELASTIC ELEMENTS EACH COMPRISING A FIRST PORTION CONNECTED WITH SAID SUPPORT, A SUBSTANTIALLY PLATE-LIKE SECOND PORTION SPACED FROM SAID FIRST PORTION AND PARALLEL WITH SAID SUPPORT, THE WIDTH OF SAID SECOND PORTION AT LEAST APPROXIMATING THE WIDTH OF SAID SUPPORT, AND AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION INCLINED WITH RESPECT TO SAID SUPPORT AND WITH RESPECT TO SAID SECOND PORTION AND CONNECTING SAID SECOND PORTION WITH SAID FIRST PORTION IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE SECOND PORTION IS ELASTICALLY MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT, SAID SECOND PORTIONS BEING COPLANAR AND TOGETHER FORMING AN IMBRICATED PATTERN OF ADJACENT SECOND PORTIONS WHICH ARE MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER WHILE REMAINING COPLANAR, EACH OF SAID SECOND PORTIONS FORMED WITH A RECESS AND EACH HAVING A FREE EDGE PORTION EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SUPPORT, SAID EDGE PORTION EXTENDING IN THE RECESS OF THE ADJACENT SECOND PORTION. 